The Solano County Board of Supervisor opted Tuesday afternoon to extend an Interim Urgency Ordinance for 10 months and 15 days that prohibits the commercial cultivation of medical or recreational cannabis.

After an extensive morning agenda that included rearranging of the board where Supervisor John Vasquez now sits as chair and Supervisor Erin Hannigan sits as vice chair, the supervisors reconvened Tuesday afternoon to continue their meeting.

Up for discussion was the extension of the moratorium that not only prohibits the commercial cultivation of medical or recreational marijuana but also prohibits the commercial delivery, distribution, transportation, manufacturing, retail operations, or testing of medical cannabis and nonmedical marijuana. Additionally, the outdoor cultivation of medical cannabis or non-medical marijuana for personal use is prohibited.

Supervisor Monica Brown, who was elected to serve District 2 after Linda Seifert chose not to run for re-election, dissented.

Brown said she had myriad reasons for voting against the extension but only elaborated by saying that law enforcement was already moving to decriminalize the use of marijuana and that she was tired of moratoriums being extended.

In the coming months, county staff is planning to present periodic updates regarding medical cannabis and non-medical marijuana that is scheduled to conclude with the release of regulations by the state with possible board action items. Staff is also arranging for representatives from various aspects of the marijuana regulation industry to speak to the Board, including Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures Jim Allan.

Director of Resource Management Bill Emlen explained that he expects to have permanent regulations in place before the most recent extension ends so that another extension is not needed.

Hannigan agreed that it was imperative to “get our ducks in a row given how fast the industry is growing.”